Pumpkins

Last year, Husband and I began a new tradition of inviting another couple (or two) over for pumpkin carving. It seems more festive to share the experience with friends. Plus, Husband gets to make a yummy meal, spiced apple cider and hot apple dumplings for dessert.

“Our moments of inspiration are not lost though we have no particular poem to show for them; for those experiences have left an indelible impression,
and we are ever and anon reminded of them.”
~ Henry David Thoreau

I love pumpkins. I truly do. Is there anything more indicative that fall is in full swing than a trip to the pumpkin patch?

Last year, the cold wind was whipping around and I suited up in jacket, gloves and toted hot cider with me. The pumpkin patch, which is within walking distance of our house (but no, we didn’t walk–pumpkins are heavy), was nearly empty.

This year, not so much.

It was a beautiful 78* and sunny–an altogether gorgeous day to be outside, one of those vestiges of summer that pops up before the real chill and rain set in here in Virginia. So families were out at the pumpkin patch in droves.

Thankfully, there were still nice pumpkins left and Husband and I managed to find three pretty ones to take home.

We set the pumpkins out for decoration, a few under the bird feeder that can be seen from the road–giving everyone who drives by a little bit of fall. The others went with the white and beige pumpkins we’d gotten last week, they sit on a bale of straw along the walkway to our door. A great big welcome to guests (and to ourselves as we return home every day).

My decor this season is hardly worthy of photos, but in the end happy pumpkins make for happy people, I’m convinced.

“Our moments of inspiration are not lost though we have no particular poem to show for them; for those experiences have left an indelible impression,
and we are ever and anon reminded of them.”
~ Henry David Thoreau